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PCA-Stream Unveils La Source Vive, a New Chamber Music Hall in Évian, France

Designed by PCA-Stream, La Source Vive is a state-of-the-art acoustic space complementing La Grange au Lac, forming the Les Mélèzes musical ensemble and aiming to foster artistic excellence and interdisciplinary dialogue.

News Published 8 July 2026 6 min read Mara Ellison

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TITLE: PCA-Stream Unveils La Source Vive, a New Chamber Music Hall in Évian, France
SLUG: la-source-vive-pca-stream-evian-france
EXCERPT: Designed by PCA-Stream, La Source Vive is a state-of-the-art acoustic space complementing La Grange au Lac, forming the Les Mélèzes musical ensemble and aiming to foster artistic excellence and interdisciplinary dialogue.
CATEGORY: Architecture News
TAGS: PCA-Stream, La Source Vive, Évian, chamber music, acoustics, Patrick Bouchain, Philippe Chiambaretta, Les Mélèzes
SEO_TITLE: PCA-Stream Designs La Source Vive: A New Acoustic Gem in Évian, France
SEO_DESCRIPTION: Discover La Source Vive, the new chamber music hall by PCA-Stream in Évian, France. Explore its innovative design, advanced acoustics, and its role within the Les Mélèzes musical ensemble.
MEDIA_QUERY: La Source Vive chamber music hall exterior view, nestled in a wooded landscape.
IMAGE_ALT: Exterior view of La Source Vive, a contemporary chamber music hall with a copper roof, situated within a lush forest setting.

La Source Vive, a new chamber music hall designed by PCA-Stream, has opened its doors in Évian, France. Situated on the heights overlooking Lake Geneva, adjacent to the existing La Grange au Lac, La Source Vive is envisioned as a cultural haven dedicated to music, artistic transmission, and interdisciplinary dialogue.

The project was initiated by Aline Foriel-Destezet, who sought to create a space that extends the legacy of La Grange au Lac, a venue built by Patrick Bouchain in 1993. In 2021, Foriel-Destezet partnered with Patrick Bouchain and Philippe Chiambaretta of PCA-STREAM to design this contemporary addition. Together, La Source Vive and La Grange au Lac form Les Mélèzes, a unified musical destination under the artistic direction of violinist Renaud Capuçon.

A Bold Vision for Music

Aline Foriel-Destezet, Founder of La Source Vive, described her aspiration for the venue: “I wanted to go beyond my role as a patron and become the founder of a bold project for music and for the generations to come. La Source Vive embodies my wish to create a place that nourishes inspiration, where sharing and the transmission of knowledge are given their full place. A space devoted to the living arts and to dialogue between disciplines, built around a programme of excellence and variety. The hall is conceived as a cultural haven, a source of emotion and fulfilment, open to all.”

The history of music in Évian is notable, dating back to 1976 with the founding of a festival by Antoine Riboud, which was later led by Mstislav Rostropovich. The festival, revived in 2014, has cemented Évian’s reputation as a significant site for musical events.

Architectural Collaboration and Innovation

La Source Vive represents a unique collaboration between Patrick Bouchain, known for his intuitive approach rooted in craftsmanship, and Philippe Chiambaretta of PCA-STREAM, who brings an analytical, science-driven methodology. This complementary partnership was central to the project’s development, which involved extensive research, experimentation, and simulations.

The hall was designed with chamber music in mind, accommodating 500 seats. Unlike the lighter, timber-focused design of La Grange au Lac, La Source Vive is a more mineral and technically complex structure, partially buried to integrate discreetly into the preserved woodland. Its design aims to host concerts and recordings year-round.

Acoustic Excellence

Central to the design of La Source Vive is its advanced acoustic performance. The internationally renowned acoustician Albert Xu, who previously collaborated with Patrick Bouchain on La Grange au Lac, played a crucial role before his passing. His work was continued by the acoustic engineering firm Meta, which utilized a digital twin of the building throughout the design process to anticipate and verify acoustic results, including reverberation time and clarity.

The building’s structure is described as being like an onion, with multiple layers providing exceptional thermal and acoustic insulation. A concrete base supports the seating and stage, topped by an insulated concrete acoustic shell finished with moulded plaster. This is surrounded by a technical cavity, separating it from an outer timber shell clad in pre-patinated copper. This intricate layering ensures optimal sound and temperature control.

The hall’s oval plan and conical section are engineered to circulate sound optimally, creating an immersive experience for both performers and the audience. It seeks to combine the advantages of traditional “shoebox” concert halls with the more intimate “vineyard” style, arranging seating around the musicians.

Sustainable Design and Materials

La Source Vive prioritizes natural and local materials. The interior features raw plaster applied in varying densities, contributing to a reverberation time of approximately 1.8 seconds. Pink beech wood and leather for the custom seats are also incorporated. A unique oculus allows natural daylight into the hall, enabling rehearsals under natural light conditions, a rare feature in music venues.

The project also emphasizes sustainability through shared cooling equipment with La Grange au Lac and connection to the district heating network, optimizing energy consumption. The surrounding landscape has been enhanced with over 150 trees and 200 shrubs as part of a project managed by Coloco, further integrating the building into its natural environment.

Les Mélèzes: A New Musical Ensemble

With the addition of La Source Vive, Les Mélèzes now stands as a distinguished musical ensemble in Évian. Under the leadership of Alexandre Hémardinquer and the artistic direction of Renaud Capuçon, the venue is committed to excellence, transmission of knowledge, and openness to diverse audiences. La Source Vive is poised to become a significant destination for chamber music and a hub for artistic innovation.

This development is significant for architecture enthusiasts and urban planners interested in the integration of cultural facilities into natural landscapes and the application of advanced acoustic engineering in contemporary building design. The collaborative approach between architects and acousticians, along with the use of sustainable materials and the creation of a holistic musical environment, offers a compelling case study in modern architectural and cultural project development.

Source: Amazing Architecture – La Source Vive, Neuvecelle, France by PCA-Stream – https://amazingarchitecture.com/music-center/la-source-vive-neuvecelle-france-by-pca-stream